Citing Sources: APA, MLA & Chicago Styles: Avoiding Plagiarism

Definition of Plagiarism

University of Texas Libraries provides a helpful definition of plagiarism.

Why Should I Document Sources?

When you conduct research, you gain an understanding of a
topic by becoming familiar with the work of other scholars in the field. To
make a valid scholarly contribution, you need to gather background information,
look up original sources, and read previous studies. Only after you have done
all this work, can you begin to formulate your own ideas on the subject.

It is necessary to document, or acknowledge, the sources you
consult during your research.

By crediting your sources,
you establish your credibility as someone who has accumulated an
extensive knowledge of a subject.

When you cite your sources, you
also show that you can back up your claims and conclusions with valid
evidence.

No less importantly, providing a
list of all the works you have consulted ensures that your readers can find
the very sources you have looked up.

It is also important to attribute
the ideas that influenced your work in order to avoid any charges of
plagiarism.